Not only did the Miami Heat keep alive the second-longest streak in NBA history, they also provided another opportunity for one of their stars to recuperate. Guard Dwyane Wade sat for a second straight game because of knee soreness, but it didn't matter in a 108-94 victory Monday against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center.

LeBron James nearly recorded a triple double with 24 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, pulling the Heat closer to league history. They have now won 27 straight games and are just six victories shy of tying the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers' record of 33 consecutive. The Heat also now just need either a win or a New York Knicks loss to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

As they have so many times during the streak, the Heat went through lulls before turning it on when it counted. The Magic tied the score at 68 only to see Miami close the third quarter with a 10-0 run.

The spurt began with a James dunk. He followed that with a 3-point play, which was made possible by Chris Andersen running the length of the court to block a layup attempt from Maurce Harkless. Ray Allen then hit a 3-pointer and James closed with a pair of free throws.

Game over.

The Heat improved to 12-1 on the second night of back-to-backs, giving coach Erik Spoelstra his 250th victory. He reached the milestone faster than any coach in franchise history.

And more importantly, they extended the streak while Wade was given a two-day vacation. Although they appear content on chasing the record, the bigger objective is remaining healthy as the postseason approaches.